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India added 2,022 new coronavirus infections Monday, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,31,38,393, while the active cases dipped to 14,832, according to the Union Health Ministry, NDTV reported.

The death count climbed to 5,24,459 with 46 more people dying due to the virus, yesterday's data showed.

The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.75 per cent, the ministry said.

On May 23, The Annapurna Express hosted an event—Salute-- recognizing 100 people with their contribution to various sectors of life. The medal of distinction was handed to the 50 visionaries and token of love to 50 pioneers. 

Along with that, ‘My Vision for Nepal’, a coffee-table book with the compilation of 50 visions of 50 eminent personalities from different walks of life, has now been unveiled. 

Kalyan Shrestha, Former chief justice said that the visionaries and the pioneers present are the encouragement, because of the struggle and effort they have put to come so far. He ended his speech saying,”We need to build a society that is ready to question [the authority], only then can we develop.” 

Representing the visionaries, Anuradha Koirala, one of the eldest members, showed her commitment to continuously work to materialize her vision—zero trafficking of women and children. She also thanked The Annapurna Express for the initiative.

Madan Rai who is Nepal’s first seed and agricultural equipment expert represented the pioneers team and said it might be difficult to work but no matter what, we have to live up to the beliefs put on us. 

Addressing the program, Chairman of Annapurna Media Network Capt. Rameshwar Thapa said that AMN, since its establishment, has been contributing to find a solution to every problem that has prevailed in the country. He also said that there is a necessity of a collective network of eminent persons who could contribute to nation building.

Similarly, Sachan Thapa, Director of Annapurna Media Network said that ApEx has been reaching the milestone on foreign policy and international and current affairs. He added, “Readers across the country have liked ApEx’s effort to help them know the insights of Nepal’s international relation.”

The Group CEO of Annapurna Media Network, Sanat Neupane, addressed the event with his ‘salute’ to every visionaries and pioneers. “Today, we present you our undying respect, disguised as a medal and token of love,” he added. 

Biswas Baral, Editor-In-Chief of The Annapurna Express said that ApEx is constantly pushing for social transformation via journalism. He also welcomed and thanked all the participants and guests.

Nepal’s state-owned oil company has hiked the retail prices for fuels, including petrol and cooking gas, by up to 12.5% because of rising global oil prices, an official said on Monday, stoking concerns consumer inflation will be further pushed up, Reuters reported.

State monopoly Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) said in a statement that the price for one litre of petrol was raised 5.8% to 180 Nepali rupees ($1.45) from 170 rupees a week earlier.

The price for a 15.4 kg cylinder of cooking gas was increased 12.5% to 1,800 Nepali rupees from 1,600 rupees earlier, it said.

Nepali people are facing a surge in food and energy prices as annual retail inflation accelerated to a five-year high of 7.28% in the month through mid-April and could further rise this month after fuel prices were revised twice within two weeks, according to Reuters.

Spiralling inflation in the poor Himalayan nation of 29 million raises the risk of social unrest as imports of goods like fuel, coal and edible oil become costlier.

“This comes very hard on us,” said Geeta Pokharel,38, a Kathmandu housewife. “Those who have can pay but what about those who can’t,” she asked.

Unlike Sri Lanka, Nepal has sufficient foreign exchange reserves to cover about six months of imports, but it could slide into difficulties if global oil and food prices remain high for a prolonged period due to the war in Ukraine.

Retail petrol prices have surged nearly 30%, and diesel and kerosene by 33% this year, while cooking gas prices have risen 14%, according to data on NOC website.

The government has banned luxury goods imports and raised fuel prices several times this year to curb the capital flows amid dwindling forex reserves – down 18.2% to $9.61 billion as of mid-April from mid-July, Reuters reported.

Deependra Bahadur Kshetry, a former central bank governor, said if prices continued to rise, inflation could rise into double-digits by mid-July this year.

“If the government wants to give some respite to the poor people it should open mobile fair price shops and supply essential goods to consumers at reasonable prices.” ($1 = 124.2100 Nepalese rupees)

Nepali social worker Anuradha Koirala said that human trafficking will be controlled in Nepal one day.

She said so during a program organized by the Annapurna Express to honor the contribution of 100 outstanding personalities at Hotel Yak &  Yeti on Monday.

"I want a society free of human trafficking,” Anuradha Koirala, the founder of Maiti Nepal, said.